Shiver

August was almost over, Tommy's birthday was on the 30th. A date that she had to dig through his friends because he wouldn't tell her. He doesn't really celebrate his birthday, Charlene decided to organize a surprise party at the cabin for his 20th birthday before he leaves for Goldstone in September.

Tommy was meeting her near her house to go to the cabin together, while his friends were secretly gathering at the cabin. She was about to leave through the back door when her mom stopped her. "Where are you off to, young lady?" her voice stern and demanding. She turned around, knowing she had been gone almost everyday since summer began. "You're seeing him again? Don't you think you've been seeing him too often? You've been gone everyday, I almost never see you at home anymore?" her mom sighed.

"It's his birthday today, mom, we're having a surprise party for him," she told her.

Her mom nodded softly and sat on the chair by the kitchen table. "I just don't want you to get too serious with him, Charlene, he's your first boyfriend ... there will be others ... don't exhaust yourself with this one," her mom said.

"Exhaust myself?" she laughed.

"I mean, spending so much time and energy for a boy ... that will not last, safe some room for other things to happen in your life ... if your father finds out, I just don't know what he'll do," her mom worries.

"Don't tell him, mom, please ... why would you think it's not gonna last? I mean he's a wonderful person, I wish you could know him like I do, I know he's not exactly what you expected, but it's not his fault he was born in a less fortunate situation ... he's trying to get out of his circumstances, he's going to work in Goldstone after summer ... he wants to be an actor," Charlene defended him.

Her mom raised her eyebrows, she knew how smart her daughter was, but sometimes she can be very naïve. "He's leaving for Goldstone to be an actor?" Catherine wanted to be sure what her daughter was saying.

"Yeah ... he needs to start somewhere, Goldstone is the place to be when you want to be in the movie business, he has some friends there who can help him get around," Charlene said.

"He doesn't have any acting background, how do you suppose he's going to get a job as an actor?" Catherine wasn't convinced.

"Auditions, mom, just like everybody else," and with that, Charlene stood up and excuse herself

Catherine took her daughter's hand, "Charlene ... don't get in too deep with this one, I beg you," she pleaded.

"Relax, mom, don't worry so much, we're just having a great summer," she kissed her mom's cheek, "And thanks for not telling dad about him," she added.

"The first ones always breaks the hardest, remember that, take it easy," she reminded her.

"I will."

She watched her daughter go with a heavy heart, she did not condone the relationship in any way, but she had to act like she was okay with it. She didn't want her daughter keeping secrets from her. She was risking her husband going berserk if he ever found out that she wasn't preventing it from happening. Catherine had always managed to not side with anyone in the family, she had to keep the peace together. But then again, this was the first time her daughter had ever made a decision that was against their will. She knew it was time to let Charlene decide what she wanted for herself, something she too didn't have the privilege to do when she was younger. Bill Ludlow, on the other hand, would not agree with her.

***********

The cabin looked like nothing out of the ordinary, it was quiet with no one around. Tommy couldn't wait to get his hands on her, he was kissing her neck and shoulders, his hands were lifting up her dress as they were ascending the stairs. She laughed it off and opened the cabin door.

"SURPRISE!!!" everyone screamed with confetti and blowing trumpets.

"Happy Birthday Tommy" the banner said, hanging across the ceiling. He looked at her with a look like he was going to punish her for deceiving him about the surprise, she smiled and responded with a kiss.

"Happy Birthday Tom! Slow down, lover boy, we'll let you celebrate privately later, okay?" Samuel came up to him with a hug and a pack of condoms. The girls took out the food they have brought for everyone, the boys got out the drinks. They put on some music and gather the gifts on the coffee table.

"Happy birthday, Tommy, I thought you could use a little party before you go back to Goldstone," Charlie hugged him and handed him a little box. "A little something for your trip," she said.

"This was your idea?" he asked.

She nodded, "I had to squeezed it out of Samuel to tell me your birthday ... 'cause you never told me the same date every time I asked you," she tapped him on the chest. He laughed under his breath and opened the box. It was a wrist watch with their names engraved on the back of it. "So you'll never be late again," she teased him.

He put it on and kissed the top of her head, "I love it, thanks Charlie, it's the best gift anyone had ever given me."

The party was a gesture as a farewell because Tommy had never left Bluebridge for more than two weeks at a time. This time he was leaving for a month, or even two months if everything works out. Each of his friends gave him something for his trip, it never really dawn on her that he was leaving, until that day. She became quiet, she clang to Tommy throughout the party, she didn't want to let him go.

When everyone went home, they were finally left alone. Her mood was much lower than before the party started. He held both her hands, looking at her sad face, trying to decipher her mood, "Are you okay? ... it was a really nice party, no one had ever done that for me before ... thank you."

She was looking down, and didn't say anything. She hugged him, put her ear on his chest, "I can't believe you're leaving for two months, I'm gonna miss you so much."

He held her tight, "Me too."

They both knew it was bound to happen, she was also leaving for school, even though it seemed like a long way away, but time goes by so quickly when you're in love. "I want to see you everyday before you go," she said.

"I want that too."

"Promise me you won't be looking at other girls when you're away?"

He smiled, "I promise ... I'll put a blindfold at all times," he made her laugh.

"I'm serious, Tommy, we've never been away from each other that long, what if you meet a beautiful woman and fall in love?"

He took a deep breath, "That's highly unlikely ... anyways, look who's talking? The girl who got drunk at a frat party with a guy who told her he liked her?" he fired the same weapon at her, jokingly.

"Okay ... let's stop talking ... and start kissing," she didn't want it to turn into a petty fight.